The History Of Kansas Gay Marriage At Manplay.com

The Informative Angle About Kansas Gay Marriage From Manplay.com

Manplay.com is informative and able to connect you to others looking to date. If you’re determined to experience and understand gay marriage history in other states, why not peruse some of the situations that have taken place in states likeKentucky? There is a lot to know and a lot to understand about gay marriage and since the supreme court’s decision that denying gay marriage was unconstitutional, same sex couples can have the same legal benefits as straight couples. This was a massive step in the right direction.

Kansas Gay Marriage: A History Of Debates

Kansas gay marriage has had a very long debate. There had been many attempts to legalize gay marriage as well as recognize gay marriage outside of Kansas state law. Though Kansas did not legalize gay marriage until June 26th 2015, due to the famed Obergefell v. Hodges case that was taken to supreme court. It is striking that Kansas had never truly opted to adopt gay marriage, but this had been because it has been met with such resistance from lawmakers. Opposers to the law commonly defined marriage as the civil union between a man and woman. Though, the supreme court ruling in 2015 has overturned any laws that had been put into effect in Kansas. We should also consider how often gay marriage was met with opposition in Kansas’ government. Through supreme ruling, Kansas gay marriage was finally legal and there has been some controversy surrounding how religious institutions should adopt same sex marriage practises. Kansas gay marriage laws have had a very long debate and it has been met with resistance, Manplay.com has all the information you need about its status.

The Supreme Court Ruling Legalized Kansas Gay Marriage

Gay marriage was not legal in Kansas until June 26 2015. Due to the Supreme court’s decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case that outlined that withholding marriage from a same sex couple was unconstitutional. Official marriage licenses were administered by June 30th throughout the state. Kansas gay marriage was not considered legal because gay marriage was not determined to be the proper form of marriage. Many citizens, politicians, Senators and religious leaders openly opposed gay marriage. In 1996, the Kansas State Senate had a 39-1 vote that essentially banned gay marriage in Kansas. Naturally this included marriages that had been lawfully and officially recognized throughout other countries in the world. Soon after this law that banned gay marriage in Kansas was passed, the Kansas House of Representatives also agreed to the bill that the state senate had passed. This proved to be a difficult hurdle for gay rights activists. The ridiculous majority in the Senate and House Of Representatives refused to acknowledge a simple civil right. In 1996, Governor Bill Graves put the Kansas gay marriage ban law into effect, thus reducing any hope of gay marriage in Kansas from ever coming into existence.

Gay Marriage Outside Of Kansas And Its Validity

With consideration of those who had been married outside of Kansas, the state banned and did not acknowledge those who had had same sex marriage licenses approved outside of the state. This might seem unreasonable and ridiculous, but these laws were in fact in place. A famous case that outlined the odd approach to civil partnerships in Kansas, was the Nelson v. Kansas Department of Revenue lawsuit. This case involved two same sex couples from Alma Kansas: Roberta and Julia Woodcock and Michael Nelson and Charles Dedmon. These couples intended to file joint state income tax returns. They were denied the privilege to do so. Consider how heterosexual couples were alllowed to file such a return and consider how these gay men and women were denied a simple right? This lawsuit also determined that these couples would essentially commit fraud if they were to file their income tax returns as two single people living together. In essence the law was not practical nor was it reasonable.

Banning Gay Marriage Is Unconstitutional

In 2014, a Chief District judge by the name of Kevin Moriarty determined that Kansas gay marriage needed to be addressed and that legal documents needed to be provided. Thus gay marriage licenses were issued. It should be noted that Johnson County where Kevin Moriarty resided is the most populous state in Kansas. It’s easy to see how this would be a perfect way to define democracy and a majority opinion in the state. However, Governor Sam Brownback claimed that activists and progressive figures in power should not attempt to break down traditional definitions of marriage. This is another example of how establishment power brokers in the state attempted to hold back a typical and natural attempt at a civil union between two human beings. Kevin Moriarty was overruled in his attempt to issue Kansas gay marriage licenses. This in essence, broke down any further attempts to adopt gay marriage. Many judges and other lawmakers who blocked Moriarty from issuing marriage licenses, attempted to claim that barring these marriage licenses would ensure state wide consistency. Naturally this proved to be another hurtle for Kansas gay marriage.

Marie v. Mosier

In 2014, two lesbian couples had been refused marriage licenses. The lawsuit Marie v. Moser determined that it was unlawful to withhold a marriage license from same sex couples because it defied the 14th amendment of the constituition. After several appeals and moves through circuit courts, the supreme court of Kansas and so on - the order to issue marriage licenses remained in effect. Despite the fact that the supreme court and judges adhered to bringing forth marriage licenses, the Westboro Baptist church tried to stop licenses being issued, claiming that marriage in Kansas was specifically between a man and a woman. However the church’s attempts to intervene were unsuccessful and essentially a sign that times were changing regarding how Kansas gay marriage laws should work. Although the attempt to issue gay marriage licenses was successful, there were only two counties in the state that could issue marriage licenses. Once again this proved to be a hurtle for Kansas gay marriage, because it represented not only how few places in Kansas aimed to issue licenses to same sex couples, but it also represented how there will be a struggle for gay couples in the state to marry and be recognized. A judge by the name of Crabtree finally made a claim that the ban on same sex marriage was unconstitutional. This claim was based on the fact that same sex marriages were not being recognized, not whether they were being recognized.

Kansas Gay Marriage Backlash

The backlash to the decision to issue licenses in only two counties was surprising and also another example of how many senior lawmakers, directors and public figures aimed to boycott such marriage licenses. For example state agencies such as the Division of Vehicles denied recognition of same-sex marriages. Then healthcare agencies such as that of Health and Environment changed their policies to include same sex couples. Even with there being so much contention in regards to Kansas gay marriage, several counties started issuing marriage licenses in November 2014. The number continued to grow before the end of the year and soon the amount of counties surmounted to over 75% of the state population. Advocacy groups for traditional marriage throughout Kansas aimed to stop these licenses from being issued, however this proved to be futile in the face of the over 75% of the state population being in favour of issuing gay marriage licenses. Despite overcoming these hurtles, Kansas gay marriage faced more of an onslaught of idealism, which in essence could not trump the more progressive attitudes attributed to lawsuits such as Marie v. Moser.

Statistics On Kansas Gay Marriage

Though there was no consideration of public policy poll regarding same sex marriage where almost half of state supports gay marriage, lawmakers continued to hustle to pass bills that would grant many people a chance to withhold marriage licenses based on their beliefs. Statistics and polls have shown that less than half of the state supports gay marriage, however the amount that support goes to show that there is enough support and demand for gay marriage in the state. The mecca of public opinion, The New York Times, took a 2014 poll and determined that 44% of voters in Kansas supported gay marriage. A Public Policy Poll from 2013, asked should gay marriage be legal? 39% of voters in Kansas supported gay marriage, while more than 50% did not support it.

The Current Status Based On The Supreme Court Ruling On Kansas Gay Marriage

In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court argued that denying same sex marriage was unconstitutional. This legalized gay marriage throughout the United States. All judicial districts in Kansas were, by law, allowed and forced to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. This decisions change the face of America and reflected a progressive change in societal consciousness. Yet, with all of the positive outcomes of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, Governor Brownback aimed to protect those, in power, who refused to issue marriage licenses to any same sex couple. His goal aimed to protect those of religious beliefs against any form of discrimination. This applied to those who distinctly believed and defined marriage as that between a man and a woman. Overall, this protected many figures in office. Governor Brownback made a claim that activists should intervene in the belief of many of the people in Kansas.

Kansas gay marriage is currently overcoming a bureaucratic firestorm regarding the supreme court’s ruling and many couples with licenses or who are seeking licenses are facing questions about tax returns and health insurance. Overall, the future of Kansas gay marriage is bright and despite the bureaucratic hurdles there will be for those attempting to marry. Though it is clear that there is no way that gay marriage can be blocked nor denied in the state based the progressive thinking of supreme court in June 2015.

External Links To Info About Kansas Gay Marriage

The following links are information about gay rights and gay marriage in Kansas. Whether you’re eloping in the state or not, we would like you to rest easy feel informed regarding gay marriage: